Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 23, 2017)

Mirror (May 12) was the first to report that after the 2016 drug-drama, Udta Punjab, Abhishek Chaubey's next is set in the '70s and revolves around Chambal dacoits, featuring Sushant Singh Rajput and Bhumi Pednekar. We have now learnt that the Ronnie Screwvala production also has Manoj Bajpayee in an important role of a dacoit.

"Yes, that's true though we are yet to zero in on a name for my character. I always wanted to work with Abhishek as I'm a huge admirer of his work. I have seen all his films, from Ishqiya and Dedh Ishqiya to Udta Punjab. He picks his stories from rural or semi-urban areas and weaves them beautifully. When I got a chance to be a part of his story-telling, I couldn't turn it down. For me this film is not so much about the role as it is about working with Abhishek Chaubey," asserts Manoj, who starts shooting in February. He admits he will have to work on the Bundelkhandi dialect in the film. Manoj is presently filming Bhonsle in Mumbai. "It's about a retired head constable and I have been waiting to get a producer. Now that a few have come on board, we are shooting zor shor se."

He resumes shooting for Sajid Nadiadwala's Baaghi 2 in December. One of the reasons for taking on this film was casting director Mukesh Chhabra and director Ahmed Khan who are his good friends. "I'm doing this film because of their conviction," he says.

Will we see him do hardcore action scenes in the sequel, you wonder, and he explains, "I can't do action like Akshay Kumar, Vidyut Jammwal and Tiger Shroff, as I have never trained in it. But whatever action I am comfortable with, you will see me doing it," he says, equally excited about Aiyaary which he claims is one of Neeraj Pandey's best scripts and the role of a lifetime.